Moon (2009) – Review

Moon is a deceptively simple film. Its stark and empty sets were obviously inspired from 1960-80s scifi films like 2001: A Space Odyssey, Silent Running and Outpost. There is even a robot, GERTY, that acts completely the opposite of HAL and yet reminds us of the role technology will play in our ultimate undoing.

A few words of warning though, like so many other scifi “dramas” Moon is an incredibly slow paced film. Some might say even boring at times, but what else can you do with a man isolated on the moon? If you stick through this film and pay attention somewhat, then you’ll find a very decent storyline with a lot to say and not much to hide. Sam Rockwell, and uh, Sam Rockwell (hint hint) give a great performance as the lonely Sam Bell, and I believe everyone will find GERTY enduring and lovable. If technology ever delivers us robots I hope they will have the a.i. programming of GERTY and not that of HAL.

This movie is a definite “see” in my opinion, even if you don’t normally like scifi films. There are several moments of humor with GERTY and the mystery of the moon can, in some small fashion, be compared to an episode of Lost.